"Rising" by Rainbow: A Guitarist's Perspective

Rainbow's second studio album, "Rising," is a classic in the heavy metal genre and features a range of guitar techniques and elements that make it a must-listen for guitarists. Released in 1976, the album features the lineup of Ronnie James Dio on vocals, Ritchie Blackmore on guitar, Cozy Powell on drums, Jimmy Bain on bass, and Tony Carey on keyboards. In this course, LickLibrary veteran Danny Gill walks you through the many highlights of each song from Rising one phrase at a time, including Richie Blackmore’s legendary guitar riffs and iconic solos from the tracks “Tarot Woman" “A Light in the Black,” and the epic “Stargazer.” In this description we'll take a closer look at each song on the album and the guitar techniques and scales used.

Tarot Woman

"Tarot Woman" is a fast-paced and riff-heavy song that features a range of guitar techniques and elements that are common in classic rock/metal. The song starts with a catchy guitar riff that features a lot of power chords and palm muting, creating a driving rhythm that propels the song forward. The guitar solo section is a highlight of the song, featuring a range of techniques such as alternate picking, string bending, and vibrato. The solo is melodic and technically demanding and is a great example of the classic rock/metal guitar style. The guitar scales used in this song include the E minor pentatonic scale and the E natural minor scale.

Run with the Wolf

"Run with the Wolf" is a blues-influenced hard rock song that features a heavy guitar riff and a powerful vocal performance from Ronnie James Dio. The song also includes a guitar solo that features a lot of string bending and vibrato. The guitar scales used in this song include the E minor pentatonic scale and the E blues scale.

Starstruck

"Starstruck" is a fast-paced and catchy song that features a memorable guitar riff and a soaring vocal performance from Ronnie James Dio. The song includes a guitar solo that showcases a range of techniques such as alternate picking, string bending, and vibrato. The guitar scales used in this song include the E minor pentatonic scale and the E major scale.

Do You Close Your Eyes

"Do You Close Your Eyes" is a hard-hitting song that features a driving guitar riff and a powerful vocal performance from Ronnie James Dio. The song also includes a guitar solo that features a lot of string bending and vibrato. The guitar scales used in this song include the E minor pentatonic scale and the E blues scale.

Stargazer

"Stargazer" is a progressive rock/metal song that features a range of guitar techniques and elements that are a hallmark of the genre. The song starts with a slow and atmospheric intro that features a clean guitar tone and a melodic guitar line. The main riff of the song is based on a descending chromatic scale that is played in unison by the guitar and keyboard. This riff is played with a distorted guitar tone and features a lot of palm muting and staccato picking to create a tight, precise sound. The song also includes a guitar solo that is played over a fast and complex chord progression. The solo features a range of techniques such as alternate picking, string skipping, legato playing, and tapping. The guitar scales used in this song include the E natural minor scale and the E harmonic minor scale.

A Light in the Black

"A Light in the Black" is the longest song on the album, clocking in at over eight minutes. The song features a range of guitar techniques and elements that make it a standout in the heavy metal genre. The song starts with a slow and atmospheric intro that features a clean guitar tone and a melodic guitar line. The song then moves into a driving rhythm that features a heavy guitar riff and a powerful vocal performance from Ronnie James Dio. The song includes a guitar solo section that is a highlight of the track, featuring a range of techniques such as alternate picking, string bending, and vibrato. The solo is melodic and technically demanding and showcases the skill and virtuosity of Ritchie Blackmore, the guitarist who played on the album. The guitar scales used in this song include the E natural minor scale and the E harmonic minor scale.

In conclusion, "Rising" is an essential album for guitarists who are interested in classic rock/metal and progressive rock/metal. The album features a range of guitar techniques and elements that are a hallmark of these genres, including power chords, palm muting, alternate picking, string bending, vibrato, and more. The guitar solos on the album are particularly impressive, showcasing the skill and virtuosity of Ritchie Blackmore, one of the most influential guitarists in the heavy metal genre. By studying the guitar techniques and scales used on this album, guitarists can improve their playing skills and develop a better understanding of the elements that make up classic rock/metal and progressive rock/metal.

NB: PERFORMANCE FOOTAGE NOT INCLUDED WITH THIS COURSE

Guitar techniques used on this album:

These techniques are used throughout the album, with each song showcasing a different combination of them. Ritchie Blackmore, the guitarist on the album, was known for his virtuosity and skill on the guitar, and the album is a great example of his playing style. Guitarists who are interested in classic rock/metal and progressive rock/metal will find a lot to learn from the guitar techniques used on this album.

1. Power chords
2. Palm muting
3. Alternate picking
4. String bending
5. Vibrato
6. Hammer-ons and pull-offs
7. Chromaticism
8. Legato playing
9. Tapping
10. Sweep picking